Mucuna laticifera: unprecedented L-dopa content and its role in neurodegenerative and inflammatory conditions.

Genus Mucuna encompasses several plant species renowned for their utilization in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, chiefly due to their exceptionally high L-dopa content relative to other plants. However, limited information exists regarding Mucuna laticifera, a newly identified species within the Mucuna genus. This study unveils a remarkable L-dopa content of 174.3 mg/g in M. laticifera seeds, surpassing all previously documented Mucuna species. Moreover, this research marks the first documentation of L-dopa, flavonoids, and phenolics within M. laticifera seeds. Furthermore, the aqueous extract derived from these seeds exhibits robust antioxidant properties. Investigation into its anti-inflammatory potential reveals a significant reduction in paw swelling and neutrophil infiltration at inflammatory sites in a carrageenan-induced rat model. Gene expression analysis utilizing a rat paw model demonstrates that the seed extract significantly downregulates the expression of various inflammation-related genes compared to carrageenan-treated rats. Collectively, these findings clearly substantiate the anti-inflammatory activity of M. laticifera seed extract. The exceptional L-dopa content combined with its anti-inflammatory properties position M. laticifera seeds as a promising therapeutic option for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, as well as various inflammatory conditions. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-03969-w.

New record of a bloom forming, genotoxic strain Nodularia strain (KT447209) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

Cyanobacteria blooms in marine waters are limited to only a few taxa; with the genus Nodularia (Nostocales) being one among the most commonly observed and widely studied species. A bloom of Nodularia sp. was observed across a vast area along the coast of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The bloom occurred during the summer when salinity was >30‰. This differed to previous reports where blooms have crashed at such high salinities. The molecular phylogeny revealed the Nodularia species to be a novel one. A crude extract from the bloom demonstrated lowed toxicity with an LC50 of 5 mg/ml at 48 h towards Artemia salina and slight genotoxicity when tested against human lymphocytes.